Today, Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore urged the Irish Parliament to clarify the restrictive abortion laws that lead to the death of Indian national Savita Halappanavar in Ireland last month. “It is time to bring legal clarity to the issue,” he said. “Although we will not know the full details until the investigation has […]
Paiwastoon Networking Services, an Afghan IT company, launched a new literacy program this week that enables women to use mobile phones to learn reading and writing. The program is currently in its pilot phase, but the education ministry has intentions of spreading it nationwide. The phone is called Ustad Mobile (Mobile Teacher) and uses mobile […]
The US Air Force released the results of an investigation into widespread sex abuse charges at the Lackland Air Force Base training facility in Texas this week. As of Wednesday, 23 training instructors have been investigated for alleged sexual assault of 48 victims. Of those who have been investigated, 11 instructors have faced criminal charges, […]
On Wednesday, the Ohio House of Representatives’ Health and Aging Committee approved a bill that would prevent Planned Parenthood clinics in Ohio from receiving federal funding. House Bill 298 seeks to redirect $1.7 million of federal funding away from Planned Parenthood to other clinics in Ohio. The predominately conservative committee approved the measure despite testimony […]
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announced today that she will seek reelection as leader of the Democratic caucus. As Democratic Leader, Pelosi is the highest ranking woman in American politics. Pelosi has used her leadership position to advance women in the House, as well as advance women’s right issues and a whole host of progressives. […]
This week Uganda’s parliamentary speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, said Uganda’s “Kill a Gay” bill will be passed by the end of the year and intends to offer it as a so-called “Christmas Gift” for Ugandans. Speaker Kadaga argues the people “are demanding it” be passed. The Anti-Homosexuality or “Kill a Gay” bill calls for the death […]
San Francisco’s Health Commission voted last week to include transitioning procedures for transgender individuals under their universal health care program. The city is reported to be the first in the United States to provide this type of coverage for uninsured residents. The city’s universal health care program, Healthy San Francisco, will be adjusted to provide […]
Savita Halappanavar died last month in Ireland after she was denied an abortion while miscarrying her pregnancy. She was 17 weeks pregnant when she arrived at University Hospital Galway complaining of severe back pain. Hospital staff determined she was miscarrying, however, doctors refused to remove the pregnancy until three days later. After the pregnancy was […]
The Catholic church acknowledged Monday that they have no plans to revise their stance on birth control or same-sex marriage despite falling flat with voters this year. This comes alongside complaints filed last week with the Internal Revenue Service that allege that many bishops and religious organizations violated requirements that they be non-partisan during this […]
Exit poll data revealed a massive and decisive gender gap in voting on the marriage equality ballot measures that just might put to rest once and for all some old gender adages. Women have all too often been cast as the more conservative sex. Nothing could be further from the truth. Women, on the average, […]
The United Parcel Service (UPS), Inc. announced they will end donations to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) due to the program’s policy barring openly gay individuals from participation. UPS released the following statement: “The UPS Foundation seeks to support organizations that are in alignment with our focus areas, guidelines, and non-discrimination policy. UPS and […]
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland has filed a lawsuit against the Oklahoma Department of Health because it has withdrawn funding from three Tulsa-area clinics that had previously received Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program funding from the state. The WIC program is designed to provide nutritional food and guidance to low-income families at a reasonable […]
After making headlines for months because of court cases regarding early voting in Ohio, Secretary of State Jon Husted is once again battling with a judge over voting. This time, the case concerns Husted’s 11th hour directive that could cause legitimate provisional ballots to be thrown out in the state of Ohio. Provisional ballots were […]
Last Wednesday, Malawian Justice Minister Ralph Kasambara backtracked on his announcement that Malawi intends to suspend criminalization of homosexuality. His initial announcement was supported by the international community, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Kasambara’s reversal comes after his initial announcement sparked internal conflict in Malawi. In his most recent statement Kasambara said, “There […]
Former Libyan prime minister Al Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi appeared in court today to face charges including ordering a mass rape and corruption during the war that overthrew Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. The court will reconvene on the case in December. Mahmoudi fled to Tunisia in 2011, but was extradited back to Libya in June 2012, creating […]
In Ohio, Secretary of State Jon Husted’s 11th hour directive that could cause legitimate provisional ballots to be thrown out is being challenged in a federal court by voting rights advocates. On Election Day, provisional ballots were cast by voters whose registration or identification was called into question for some reason when they went to […]
This week Kim Gandy left her position as Vice President and General Counsel of the Feminist Majority Foundation to take the helm as President and CEO of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. Gandy began her illustrious feminist career as an attorney defending victims of domestic violence and led a successful effort to modernize […]
For years, young voters have been discounted and labeled as apathetic no shows when it comes to voting. After 2012, the age gap will be ignored at a politician’s peril. In 2012, according to exit polls, nationwide voters 18-29 years old comprised 19% of the electorate while voters over 65 years comprised 16% of the […]
Jared Loughner, who attempted to assassinate then Congresswoman Gabriel Giffords, killed six, and wounded thirteen in Tucson, Arizona, in January 2011 was sentenced to seven consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole yesterday. According to CNN, U.S. District Judge Larry Burns believed that even though 24-year-old Loughner suffered from mental illness, […]
The Kenyan Government has proposed a law that would ban mandatory bride-price payments, recognize co-habiting couples, and legalize polygamy. The Marriage Bill 2012 was approved by the cabinet but must also pass parliament before becoming a national law. Marriage Bill 2012 will eliminate the current customary law that dictates a marriage is not legal until […]
